Trim panel assembly



Jan. 7, 1936. w. MARSHALL I TRIM PANEL ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 29, 1955 INVENTOR Wz Ilia? Maraall.

BY M CJMQ ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 7, 1936 i I 35*: v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEVFJV TRIM PANEL Assnrmm'r' William Marshall, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Briggs Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Micln,

a corporation of Michigan Application September 29, 1933, Serial No. 691,441

g 6 Claims. c1. 45-138) This invention relates to improvements trim tended to limit the invention claimed herein bepanel assemblies for vehicle bodies and particuyond the requirements of the prior art. larly for automobile bodies, an object of the in- The present invention provides an improved ,vention being to improve and simplify the contrim panel assembly particularly applicable to struction of the trim panels while at-the same automobile bodies wherein the fabric covered trim time enabling the panels to be readily and easily panel and the door or other frame portion of the assembled on the body frame. body are provided with improved cooperating fas- A further object of the invention is to provide tener portions so constructed that the trim panel an improved trim assembly for vehicle bodies, parmay be readily and easily mounted on the body ticularly automobile bodies, in which fastener eleor door framework and detachably held in D I- 1 ments preferably of the spring type are mounted tion thereon. 0n and carried by the panel in an improved man- Referring to the embodiment ofthe invention ner whereby manufacturing economies are obillustratedin the dr win the r P l A in r tained while at the same time efficiency in pros ta o p e a foundation hacking duction is secured. sheet Ill (Fig. 2) preferably of fiber board or the 1o A further object 'of the inventionis to provide i e, which i c v d w the t fabric M an improved trim panel assembly for vehicle secured to the h in Sheet n preferably y bodies, particularly automobilebodies, having imcementing o otherwise bending the trim fabric proved means for the surface ornamentation for n h u n P n wn in Fi 2- such panels and also having improved means for n forming h trim Panel the foundation 20 mounting fastener devices therein. b k s eets 0 are pr e b y c to s e. A Other objects of this invention will appear in reinforcing ed e e e ll having therein a the following description and appended claims, astener Opening 15, and a spacing element i2 reference being had to the accompanying drawing having therein an underrcut fastener Opening 5 forming a part of this specification wherein like It registerin i p i the opening It i t e 2 reference characters designate corresponding member I l are secured to the foundation 01' p t in t sevem1views backing sheet In by stitches i3 and staples l1, Fig 1 is fragmentary'perspective View partly or any other preferred means. The openings or broken away of a door of an automobile embodyapertures It in the member I2 are t o a si me my invention; to provide under-cut spaces of suiiicient depth 30 2 is a, per5pective view of the back of a to anchor the ends of the spring fastener 'elet panel embodying my invention adapted to ments l8, and the openings IS in the member ll be fastened to the d r; being somewhat smaller than. the openings l6 Fig. 3 is a section tak through lines 3. .3 of in the member .12, serve to retain the spring Fig, 1 in th dir ti of'the arrows; I I fastener elements it in the underlying recesses '35 Fig. 41s a section similar to Fig. 3 but illus- Provided by the openings s trating certain of the parts pl'fipamtory t the On the face of the foundation or backing sheet assembly thereof; l0, preferably around the side thereof an orna- Fi'g. 5 is a fragmentary elevation taken on the {nental formed 01 rubPer Q Other lines 5-5 of Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows; able matenal is Secured by $t1tche$ 2| other Fig. 6 is a detail section taken through lines suitable means The ornamental user may 5 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows; be placed on the face of the panel ID in any de- Fig. 7- is a perspective view of a spring fastener .formi such example as the a Show 45 member I in Fig. 1 where it forms an ornamental surface 4 Before explaining in detail the present invenmoldmg having an outer convex or curvilinear a contour. -A longitudinal groove or channel 20 tion it is to be understood that the invention is is provided in the face of the ornamental riser not mmtfad m its apphcation to the of I9 and is of sufficient depth to permit the'stitches construction and arrangement of parts illustrated or other securing means to extend through the in the accompanying drawing, since the invention riser m and the backing sheet w t t pro- 50 is capable of other embodiments and of being jecting above th top surfaceof the riser l9. pra ticed or carried outinvarious ways. Also it is After the backing or foundation sheet In has to be understood that the phraseology or termibeen thu assembled the trim fabric M is nology employed herein is for the purpose of de stretched over the face of the panel and is sescriptien and not f l tati n, and it is notincured along each side of the ornamental riser i9 in stretched condition by parallel lines of stitching 22 or other suitable securing means, thusconforming to the bead-like contour of the risers as indicated at C in Fig. l. The fabric II is turned over the edge of the panel as at Ma. and is cemented or otherwise secured to the reenforcing edge member II. In order to anchor the ornamental riser I9 and the stitches 22 or other suitable means used for securing the fabric H to the face of the trim panel, a strip of suitable reenforcing material 23, preferably fabric, is placed on the back of the foundation or backing sheet l0 and the stitches 2| pass through the riser l9 and through the backing sheet In and the reenforcing means 23. The stitches 22 also pass through the fabric cover M, the backing strip Ill and the reenforcing strip 23. In this manner the ornamental riser I9 is anchored securely to the foundation or backing strip l0 and provision is thus made to prevent the pulling out of the stitches 22 used in fastening the fabric M on each side of the ornamental riser IS.

The trim panel assembly is secured to the frame of the door or other part of the body by means of the spring fastening elements l8 which, as shown in Fig. 7, are formed with a tapered spring bow portion l8a, a neck portion I81), and anchoring end portions I80. Afteri the trim panel has been assembled as above described, the spring fastening elements I8 are compressed and the ends I are drawn together and threaded or laced through the openings [5 and into the underlying recessed portions I 6. Upon release of the pressure on the member I 8 the member is securely held in place in the trim panel as above described.

One use of a trim panel embodying my invention is as, a finishing panel on a conventional type of door assembly which includes side pillars 24 having inturned flange p'ortions 24a joined by means of the usual inner metal panel 25. The overlapped portions of the pillar flanges 24a and panel 25 (see Fig. 6) are provided with a plurality of openings 26 so placed relative to the trim panel assembly as to register with the spring fastener elements l8 and thereby permit the latter to be inserted through the openings 26 and so detachably secure the panel on the door, this being shown clearly in Fig. 3 and the relation of the parts prior to assembly being shown in Fig. 4.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 the upper edge of the irmer metal door panel 25 may be provided with a flange 21 for supporting the usual garnish or finish molding 28 secured thereto as by screws It will be seen that in the present preferred construction utilizing a non-metallic backing sheet, the staples H are located closely adjacent the opposite ends of apertures l5 and of the underlying recesses of the apertures I6, the ends of the staples being embedded and clinched in the backing sheet l0. As a consequence of this construction the retaining walls of the underlying recesses will be stiffened so as to effectively resist detachment of the fasteners.

' I claim:

1. A trim panel comprising a non-metallic backing sheet, a fabric covering for said sheet, an ornamental riser stirp interposed between said fabric and sheet at the outer face of the latter, parallel lines of stitching extending 5 along the opposite longitudinal edges of the riser for securing said fabric to the backing sheet, said riser strip having a preformed'continuous groove in its outer face, and a line of stitching for securing the riser to the backing sheet and housed 10 within said groove beneath said fabric.

2. A trim panel comprising a non-metallic backing sheet, an ornamental riser strip having an outer convex surface provided with a preformed continuous groove, means entirely l5 housed within said groove for attaching said riser strip to the backing sheet, and a trim fabric covering for said sheet secured to the latter along opposite side edges of the riser strip and concealing said attaching means. 20

3. A trim panel comprising a non-metallic backing sheet, an ornamental resilient riser strip having an outer convex surface provided with a preformed continuous groove, a line of stitching entirely housed within said groove for attaching 25 said riser strip to the backing sheet, and a trim fabric covering for said sheet stitched to the latter along opposite side edges of the riser strip and concealing said attaching means.

4. As a. new article of manufacture a trim panel 30 including a foundation sheet provided on one surface with an ornamental riser, means for securing saidriser to said foundation sheet, said riser having a preformed continuous channel to receive and conceal said securing means, and a 33 fabric covering secured to said foundation sheet to conform to the contour of said ornamental riser.

5. As a new article of manufacture a trim panel including a foundation sheet provided on 40 one surface with an ornamental riser, means for securing said riser to said foundation sheet, said riser having a preformed continuous channel to receive and conceal said securing means, a fabric covering secured to'said foundation sheet to conform to the contour of said ornamental riser, and reinforcing means on the opposite side of the sheet from said riser and cooperating with the riser securing means for anchoring the riser to the foundation sheet. 50

6. A trim panel comprising a non-metallic backing sheet, a fabric covering for said sheet, an ornamental riser strip interposed between said fabric and sheet at the outer face of the latter, parallel lines of stitching extending along the opposite longitudinal edges of the riser for securing said fabric to the backing sheet, said riser strip having a preformed continuous groove in its outer face, a-line of stitching for securing the riser to the backing sheet and housed within 60 said groove beneath said fabric, and a reinforcing means on the opposite side of the sheet from said riser and receiving said stitches for anchoring the riser and said stitches to the foundation sheet.

WILLIAM MARSHALL. 

